FOCUS ON - phrasal verbs with get, 1

Infinitive get back get back & gets back getting back got back gottenlgot back 1.. Infinitive present tense -ing form past tense past participle get get behind & gets behind getting

13 We're planning to for a few weeks Would you mind watering our plants until

16 Bob is very kind and generous He _ helping other people

42 FOCUS ON: phrasal verbs with get, 1

Many phrasal verbs are based on the verb get, and it is important to understand that the meaning

of get in these verbs is not the same as the nonphrasal form of get, meaning receive Instead, get has a meaning similar to become or change to:

I got up at 6:00.{\ was not up before, and then I became up — I changed

from not being up to being up.)

Many phrasal verbs with get that relate to a change in physical location might seem

identical in meaning to a variety of phrasal verbs using come, go, and other verbs that

describe physical movement, such as walk, run, move, and so on, and often they can be

used with little difference in meaning:

l came back last night I got

back last night

But there is a difference: get emphasizes the change in location; come, go, and so on,

emphasize the movement from one location to another

It is very common to use the adverbs right and back with get phrasal verbs To review the adverb right, see Sections 19 and 22 To review the adverb back, review Section 26 (and do not confuse the adverb back with the particle back)

Note that two forms of the past participle of get are shown: gotten and got Gotten is more common in American English, but got is occasionally used Both are correct

Infinitive

get back get back & gets back getting back got back gottenlgot back

1 get back (to) p.v When you return to a level or place where you were before, you get

back or get back to that place

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We left three weeks ago, and we didn't get back until yesterday

Where are you going? Get right back here!

Mark lost a tot of weight when he was sick, and it took him a long time to get back

to his old weight

2 get back (to) p.v When you get something back or get something back to a person

or place, you return it to that person or place

Jim uses his mother's car in the morning, but she needs it to go to work at 4:30, so he has to get it back before then

I have to get these books back to the library — they're overdue

3 get back (from) p.v When you get something back or get something back from

someone or someplace, you have something that you had before

l couldn't believe I got my stolen car back

Jim borrowed a book from me three years ago, and I still haven't gotten it back from him

4 get back (from) p.v When you get back or get back from something that is very hot or

dangerous or that you should not be near, you move away from it so that there is more

distance between you and it

Get back from the edge of the cliff! You might fall

As the President came closer, the police told the crowd to get back

Infinitive

present tense -ing form past tense past participle

get

get behind & gets behind getting behind got behind gottenlgot behind

1 get behind (in) p.v When you are in a group that is studying or working, and so on, and

they learn faster or get more work done because you are learning or working more slowly

than the others, you get behind or get behind in your studies or work When you do not

complete work as fast as originally planned and expected, you get behind schedule Keep

up is the opposite of get behind Fall behind is similar to get behind

Linda had some problems last semester, and she got behind in her studies

With all the bad weather we've been having, the construction project has gotten way behind schedule

get by

get by & gets by getting by got by gottenlgot by

1.get by p.v When you get by or get by something, you pass something or someone

while you are walking or driving even though it may be difficult because there is not

enough room

Can you move all that junk in the hallway please? It's hard for people to get by

There was an accident on the highway, and no one could get by

2 get by (on) p.v When you get by or get by on a certain amount of money, you continue with

your work or continue with your life even though it may be difficult

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Don't worry about me; I'll get by somehow

It's not easy getting by on $250 a week

3 get by p.v When something, such as a mistake or a problem, gets by you, you do not

notice it

I've got a great editor; no mistakes get by her

I checked this report twice How did all these misspellings get by me?

Infinitive

get down get down & gets down getting down got down gottenlgot down

1 get down (to) p.v When you move to a lower level or place or from north to south, you

get down or get down to that level or place Get up is the opposite of get down Go down is similar to get down

You're going to fall out of that tree and break your neck Get down right now!

The first thing I did after I got down to Miami was go to the beach

2 get down (from) p.v When you get things or people down, you move them from a

higher level or place to a lower one

Why do you always put the dishes on the top shelf? I can't get them down

The fire fighters got the people down from the roof of the burning building

3 get down p.v When you bend your body and lower your head to avoid danger or to

prevent people from seeing you, you get down

When the enemy soldiers started shooting, the sergeant ordered his men to get down

Get down! If the police catch us here we'll be in a lot of trouble

4 get down p.v When things or people get you down, they make you sad or

depressed

Don't let your troubles get you down Everything will be all right

Jim's marriage problems are really getting him down

get in

get in & gets in getting in got in gottenlgot in

1 get inlinto p.v When you get in or get into a place, building, room, car, boat, and so

on, you enter it

Get in the car! We're going now

We'd better get into the school — the bell's going to ring soon

2 get inlinto p.v When you get in or get into a place, building, club, restaurant,

meeting, and so on, you obtain permission to enter When you get other people in or get other people into a building, club, restaurant, meeting, and so on, you arrange for them to

enter

We'll never get into that club; we don't know the right people

l didn't have an invitation to the party, but Nancy got me in

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3 get inlinto p.v When you get something in or get something into a place, building,

room, container, enclosure, and so on, you get the object inside even though it is difficult

The shoes are too small — I can't get my feet in

How did they get that elephant into its cage?

4 get inlinto p.v When you get in trouble or get into a difficult situation or a mess (a

mess is a confused or difficult situation), you become involved in it When you get people

in trouble or get them into a difficult situation or a mess, you cause them to become

involved in it

Susie got in a lot of trouble at school today

I don't see any solution to this problem How did I ever get into this mess?

5 get inlinto p.v When you get in or get into a place, you arrive When the vehicle you

are in gets in or gets into a place, it arrives Come in is similar to get in

I'm exhausted I got in really late last night

I'll be waiting for you at the station when your train gets into the station

6 get in p.v When a store gets something in, it receives a delivery of something that it

will offer for sale

Karen asked the sales clerk when the store was going to get some summer dresses in

I wanted to buy that new book, but the bookstore hasn't gotten it in yet

7 get in p.v When you get an activity in, you find the time for it or make the time for it

Dinner isn't until 7:30, so we've got time to get a tennis game in

Whenever I go to San Francisco on business, I try to get a baseball game in

Infinitive

get out get out & gets out getting out got out gottenlgot out

1 get out (of) p.v When you get out or get out of a place, building, room, car, boat, and

so on, you leave or escape from it

When Bob heard his car's engine making a strange noise, he got out and looked under the hood

We smelled gas and got out of the building just seconds before it exploded

2 get out (to) p.v When you go to a place that is west of where you are or to a place

outside a large city, you get out or get out to that place

l love it here in the city I almost never get out to the suburbs anymore

I told my friend in New York, "If you ever get out to California, please visit me."

3 get out (of) p.v When you get people out or get them out of a place, you take them

out or you arrange for them to leave

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The soldiers were surrounded, so they called for a helicopter to get them out

After Hank was arrested, his lawyer got him out of jail

4 get out (of) p.v When you get out or get out of a dangerous, awkward, or difficult

situation, you avoid it When you get people out of a dangerous, awkward, or difficult

situation, you help them to avoid it

Erik made a date with two girls for the same night How is he going to get out of this mess?

You got me into this mess — you get me out!

5 get out (of) p.v When you get something out or get something out of a

container or place, you remove it

Mother's coming for dinner tonight, so let's get the good china out

The videotape is jammed; I can't get it out of the VCR

6 get out (of) p.v When you get dirt or a stain out or get dirt or a stain out of a

material, you remove it by cleaning

This detergent's ad claims it'll get dirt out even in cold water

Do you think bleach will get this wine stain out of my white blouse?

7 get out p.v When information gets out, it becomes known to people who are not

supposed to know it

Be careful — we'll be in a lot of trouble if this information gets out

There was a huge scandal after the news got out

8 get out (of) p.v When you leave your house and do things that are relaxing and fun,

you get out or get out of the house

You work too hard; you should get out more

Ned doesn't get out of the house much; he prefers to stay home and play computer games

Infinitive

get over get over & gets over getting over got over gottenlgot over

1 get over (to) p.v When you get over to a place, you go there When you tell people to

get over here, you want them to come where you are

Francisco called and he said he needs you to help him with something, so get over to his house right way Susie, get over here and clean up this mess immediately!

2 get over p.v When you get over a problem, illness, or emotionally painful

experience, you stop letting it affect you and continue with your life

I've got a bad cold I've been sick for a week, and I still haven't gotten over it

You can't feel sorry for yourself forever — you've got to get over it and get on with your life

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3 get over p.v When something happens that surprises you or makes you angry, and you

cannot stop thinking about it, you cannot get over it

l can't get over seeing my ex-wife with her new husband

The coach couldn't get over losing the state championship 47 to 0

Infinitive

1.get up (to) p.v When you move to a higher level or place, or from south to north, you

get up or get up to that level or place Get down is the opposite of get up Go up is

similar to get up

Tom, your brother is in the basement Please go tell him to get right up here and start doing his homework

I haven't gotten up to my brother's house in Canada for a long time

2 get up p.v When you get up or someone gets you up, you rise from your bed When

you get people up, you cause them to rise from their beds

l don't usually get up until 11:00 on weekends

I make breakfast; getting the children up and ready for school in the morning is Bill's job

3 get up p.v When you change from a sitting or lying position to a standing position,

you get up Stand up is similar to get up

The teacher told the sleeping students to get up

After he hit me, I got right up and hit him back

EXERCISE 42a — Complete the sentences with phrasal verbs from this section Be

sure the phrasal verbs are in the correct tense

1 That bomb might explode Maybe we should a little

2 As soon as the car stopped, I _ right _ and went inside the house

3 I'll lose my job if this information , so don't tell anyone

4 Jim's death took me a long time

5 Now the police are outside Look at all the trouble you've _ me !

6 I thought these pants were ruined after I got ink on them, but this detergent the ink right

7 I was working in my office on the third floor, and my boss called from his office on the sixth floor and told

me to there immediately

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8 Work, work, work — that's all you do You need to _ _ more often

9 It's 4:10 If we hurry, we might a round of golf before it gets dark

10 I was trying to leave work a little early, but my boss said, "You can't go home until 5:00 back here!"

11 Would you like to go shopping at Wal-Mart tomorrow? They just some new

stuff

12 The game is sold out, but I know someone who might be able to _ us _

13 What time did your plane last night?

14 Hank is in a lot of trouble If he of it, it'll be a miracle

15 Nicole does her work very carefully and never makes mistakes Nothing her

16 Your sister's upstairs sleeping Go tell her to right here and eat breakfast

17 Look, there's a bear! — it might see us

18 My husband spent his whole paycheck on beer and lottery tickets I don't know how we're going to this month

19 I wish I hadn't late I missed the bus, and now I have to walk to school

20 This is a very difficult class If you don't study hard, you'll _ _

21 The teacher said, "Your midterm score wasn't very good, but I'm sure if you study hard, you'll do a lot better on the final Don't let it you."

22 Excuse me, could you move? I can't _ _

23 Mike usually leaves around 8:00 in the morning and _ around 5:30

24 My cat has been in that tree for three days Can you help me _ her ?

25 It's amazing I can't how great Tom looks I'll bet he's lost forty pounds

26 If you lose your receipt, your money for something you bought is usually impossible

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27 Timmy's mother said,"Who said you could leave the table? _ back here and finish your vegetables!"

28 Our neighbor called and saidl'Your dog is in my garden it !"

29 The situation in that country is very dangerous, so Washington is making plans to its embassy staff

30 David was so sick he couldn't even of bed

31 It isn't easy to _this big car _that small garage

EXERCISE 42b — Write answers to the questions using phrasal verbs from this

section Be sure the phrasal verbs are in the correct tense

1 My father came into my bedroom, shook my shoulder, and told me that breakfast was almost ready What did my father do?

2 I live in New Orleans, and it's difficult to find the time to travel to Minnesota to visit my sister What is difficult?

3 After you were arrested for drunken driving, you were in a lot of trouble What did you do?

4 You need to return to your home very quickly What do you need to do?

5 After Judy pays her bills, she just barely has enough money to survive until the end of the month What can Judy just barely do?

6 If Heather doesn't work harder in her math class, she will not be able to stay at the same level as the other students What will happen to Heather if she doesn't work harder?

7 It's been five years, but Frank is still sad about his brother's death What hasn't Frank done yet?

8 I was trapped in my car after an accident, but a rescue worker removed me from my car What did the rescue worker do?

9 Alex is removing his toy train from the closet What is Alex doing to his toy train?

10 Carlos is standing on a table so that he can get the toy airplane that he threw on top of the refrigerator What is Carlos doing?

11 The sofa was too big, and the movers couldn't bring it inside our new house What couldn't the movers do?

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12 There is a huge truck in front of us, and we can't pass it What can't we do?

13 Lydia left the building when she heard the fire alarm What did Lydia do?

14 After getting out of her car, Janice entered it again What did Janice do?

15 Erik's bicycle was stolen, but now he has it again What did Erik do?

16 The pilot had mechanical problems with her airplane, but the controllers on the ground helped her land What did the controllers do to the pilot?

17 Bill called and asked me to come to his house very quickly What did Bill ask me to do?

EXERCISE 42c, Review — Complete the sentences with these phrasal verbs from previous sections Be sure the phrasal verbs are in the correct tense To check their meanings, review the section number given after each one

brush off, 37 float around, 34 punch in, 30 sneak out, 41

call back, 28 go inlinto, 41 punch out, 30 start up, 26

call up, 28 leave behind, 35 run around, 40

clear out, 32 pick up, 39 sell out, 39

cross off, 39 plug inlinto, 41 sneak inlinto, 41

1 There's nothing to eat for dinner tonight Can you some takeout food when you come home from work tonight?

2 My brother wants to store some of his stuff in my attic, so tonight I'm going to some of the junk up there to make more room

3 If you want to get a ticket for the Superbowl, you'll need to hurry — they're fast

4 When I go on vacation, I want to relax at the beach and _ my worries _

5 Ned is worried There's a rumor that someone is going to get fired

6 I can't find the toy my daughter wants for her birthday anywhere I've been all day looking for it

7 I'm going to be late for work Would you mind _ me _?

8 Dan must still be here in the office somewhere He hasn't _ _ yet

9 I haven't talked to Nancy in a long time I think I'll her tonight

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10 Nancy was in the shower when I called, but her brother said she'd me right

11 Are you sure this is the right key? It won't the lock

12 Margaret Cummings decided to leave her job with a big company and her own company

13 _ _the theater was easy One of our friends went inside and opened the fire exit for the rest of us

14 My father won't let me go to the dance, so I'm going to after he goes to bed

15 None of the bad things people say about Charles bother him He just it

16 I made a list of people to invite to my wedding, but after I heard all those nasty things Sarah said about my fiance, I her name the list

17 Well, I think I've fixed the vacuum cleaner Let's it and see if it works now

43 FOCUS ON: modals and present perfect phrasal verbs

Remember that the present perfect is formed with have or the contraction 've and the past participle

The only difference is that has is not used for the third person singular:

He has run up a big bill He would have

run up a big bill

The meanings of the modal and semimodal auxiliaries are unchanged in the

present perfect, except for may and might

Past speculation and you do not know what happened: might have or may have

When discussing something that was possible in the past and you do not know what

happened, either might have or may have can be used:

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l wonder where Jim is He might have stopped off at the bar I wonder where

Jim is He may have stopped off at the bar

Because you do not know whether Jim stopped off at the bar, either might have or may have can be used

Past speculation and you know what happened: only might have

When discussing something that was possible in the past and you know what happened,

only might have can be used:

Climbing that tree was stupid You might have fallen out Climbing that

tree was stupid You may have fallen out.

Because I know that the person I am talking to did not fall out of the tree, only might have

can be used

Infinitive

present tense -ing form past tense past participle

blow out

blowout & blows out blowing out blew out blown out

1 blow out p.v When a flame blows out or is blown out by a strong wind, it stops

burning When you blow out a flame, you use your breath to make the flame stop

burning

Don't open the window — the candles will blow out

I couldn't light my cigarette; the wind kept blowing the match out

The stove isn't working Maybe the pilot light has blown out

2 blow out (of) p.v When something is moved outward away from where it was by an

explosion or a very strong wind, it is blown out or blown out of where it was before

The force of the explosion blew all the windows out

Look, there's a dead bird The wind might have blown it out of its nest

blowout n When a tire bursts and suddenly loses its air while you are driving, you have a blowout

Maria had a blowout while she was driving, lost control of her car, and hit a tree

3 blow out p.v When a piece of electrical equipment or a fuse blows out, it fails

because too much electricity is passing through it

Don't be surprised if the fuse blows out — you have seven lights, your computer, and your TV all plugged into

one outlet

When lightning hit our house, it blew all the telephones out

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Infinitive

give out give out & gives out giving out gave out given out

1 give out (to) p.v When you distribute something to other people, you give it out or

give it out to them Hand out is similar to give out

They gave out free hats to the first 5,000 fans to enter the stadium

The aid workers would have given more food out to the famine victims, but they didn't have enough

2 give out (on) p.v When a mechanical or electrical device stops working, it gives out or

gives out on you When a supply of something is completely used, it gives out or gives out on you

The explorers tost their way in the desert and died after their water gave out

I bought a Chevrolet in 1964 and drove it more than 300,000 miles before it finally gave out on me

gross out

gross out & grosses out grossing out grossed out grossed out

1 gross out p.v [informal] When something grosses you out, it upsets you or makes

you sick because you think it is disgusting

You had to dissect a cadaver in your biology class? Yuk, that would've really grossed me out

Alex hates changing his little brother's diapers — it grosses him out

grossed out part.adj When something upsets you or makes you sick because you think it

is disgusting, you are grossed out

l was eating an apple, and I found half a worm in it I was so grossed out that I almost threw up head toward

head toward & heads toward heading toward headed toward headed toward

1 head toward p.v When you head toward a certain location, you move toward it When you

say that you are headed toward or are heading toward a certain location, you mean that you

are planning to go there or that you are going there but have interrupted your journey and will

resume it Head for is the same as head toward

The escaped convicts must have headed toward Mexico

I'm heading toward Portland Where are you going?

run up

run up & runs up running up ran up run up

1 run up (to) p.v When you run to a higher level or place, you run up or run up to that place Run up and answer the phone if it rings, okay?

If I'd heard the baby crying, I would have run up to his bedroom

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2 run up p.v When you accumulate a number of debts, resulting in a total debt of a

certain amount, you run up a bill for that amount

Giving my son a credit card was a mistake — he ran up a $2,500 bill in only one month

Calling your family every week from Australia must have run a big phone bill up

run-up n A large, sudden increase in the price, value, or cost of something is a

run-up

Bill was lucky to buy 500 shares of the stock just before the big run-up

3 run up (to) p.v When you run toward people, you run up or run up to them

The prince didn't have any bodyguards Anyone could have run up and attacked him

After the explosion, a man covered with blood ran up to me and asked for help

Infinitive

1 shut up (about) p.v [informal] When people stop talking, they shut up or shut up about

something they are talking about When you are angry and want people to stop talking,

you tell them to shut up

Marvin talks and talks and talks — he never shuts up

I said I was sorry about crashing your car Now will you please shut up about it!

1 shut up p.v [informal] When people or things cause you to stop talking, they shut you

up

Toad was making jokes about his wife at the party until she gave him a look that shut him right up

I can't hear the TV — can you shut those kids up?

stop off

stop off & stops off stopping off stopped off stopped off

1 stop off (atlin) p.v When you stop off at a place or stop off in an area on the way to

another place, you stop there briefly before continuing your journey

l would have stopped off at Sally's house this morning, but I was late for work

Stopping off in Cairo on our way to India would be fun

try on

try on & tries on trying on tried on tried on

1 try on p.v When you try on an item of clothing before deciding whether you will buy it

or borrow it from someone in order to see if it fits or to see if you like it, you try it on

She must have tried on twenty pairs of shoes before making up her mind

Would you like to borrow this dress for the dance tonight? Here, try it on

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